Minnesota Timberwolves use top pick on Wesley Johnson

Syracuse's Johnson there for the taking with No. 4 selection

The MInnesota Timberwolves introduced from left to right: Nemanja Bjelica, Lazar Hayward and Wesley Johnson at a press conference at Target Center in Minneapolis June 25, 2010. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff)

After sweating out the unknown for two days, wondering if the New Jersey Nets were really serious about selecting Wesley Johnson in the first round of Thursday night's NBA draft, things ultimately fell in the Timberwolves' favor.

The Wolves were able to choose the Syracuse forward with their No. 4 pick after New Jersey opted for Georgia Tech power forward Derrick Favors at No. 3. Up until Thursday morning, the Nets were giving indications that they were interested in Johnson but settled on Favors to fill a more pressing need up front.

The 6-foot-8 Johnson, considered the best small forward in the draft, is the player the Wolves identified early in the team's draft process. The Wolves met with Johnson at the pre-draft camp in Chicago and spent time with him in the Twin Cities when he worked out for the club last week.

"I was really pleased to learn I was going to Minnesota," Johnson said Thursday night from draft headquarters at Madison Square Garden in New York. "It's the team that I always felt would be a good fit for me."

There were no surprises among the first two picks. Kentucky point guard John Wall was taken at No. 1 by the Washington Wizards and Ohio State swingman Evan Turner went to the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 2.

Despite a busy first round for the Wolves, which included trading six-year veteran forward Ryan Gomes to Portland, securing Johnson was clearly the top achievement for the franchise.

Advertisement

On several occasions last season, Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn and coach Kurt Rambis said the team's top offseason priority was to find an athletic scorer with size — for the backcourt or along the front line.

Though Johnson was the Wolves' top choice, Kahn said the club would have taken Favors if Johnson went to New Jersey.

"We got the player we wanted," Kahn said. "A lot of people around the league felt that Johnson might be the player in the entire draft most ready to play in the league right now."

Johnson, 22, averaged 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his only season at Syracuse. He shot 50.2 percent from the floor and 41.5 percent from three-point range.

The native of Corsicana, Texas, played at Iowa State in 2006-07 and 2007-08 before transferring to Syracuse. He sat out the 2008-09 season, missing a chance to play with point guard Jonny Flynn, a first-round pick of the Wolves' in 2009.

Flynn sent Johnson several text messages Thursday night after learning of Johnson's selection by the Wolves, one that Johnson said read "teammate, teammate."

"Jonny was pretty excited about it," Johnson said of Flynn's reaction. "He congratulated me and then he said it's time to get down to business. I really appreciate the way he's reached out to me."

Flynn has been a helpful resource for Johnson in the pre-draft process. The two talked regularly in the weeks leading up to the draft. After working out for the Wolves, Johnson said Flynn's presence would be a key factor in easing his transition to the NBA and life in Minnesota.

"Jonny and I can bring a lot of excitement to Minnesota," Johnson said. "The chemistry is already there."